Vaginal speculum.



L. .DROSIN. VAGINAL SPECULUM. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. I913. RENEWED JUNE 30, I915. 1,150,749.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

IINVEIIITOR jams Jmjm COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0., WASHINGTON D c LOUIS DROSIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VAGINAL SPECULUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 317, 1915.

Application filed February 21, 1913, Serial No. 749,853. Renewed June 30, 1915. Serial No. 37,367.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS Dnosrn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Vaginal Speculum, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to surgical instruments, and has particular reference to specula for use in the examination of and operation upon uterine and vaginal disturbances.

The primary object of this invention is to produce an instrument of the nature specified which will dispense with or take the place of several previously known and commonly used instruments, combining, therefore, in a single reliable, efficient instrument the functions of the previous ones, with the result that not only may the operation be more quickly and easily performed, but a surgeon acting alone is enabled to perform operations which now commonly demand the cooperation of one or more assistants, and the pain incident to the insertion of a second speculum is avoided.

A further object'of the invention is to provide a combination self-retaining or weighted speculum and a bivalve speculum capable of conjoint use under certain conditions, or each independently of the other under other conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solid speculum blade separable from both the bob and the other parts of the bivalve structure, and use such solid blade as a retractor, if desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a weighted speculum so constructed that in certain cases of rectocele, lacerated perineums, or the like, it may be so adjusted so as to hold itself in place without danger of slipping as the ordinary speculum sometimes does.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the speculum complete, showing the parts in position adjusted for regular operation; Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.-

The several parts of the device may be made of any suitable materials and the relative sizes and proportions thereof, as well as the general design of the instrument, may be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention hereinafter claimed.

In carrying out this invention in a pre-' ferred embodiment, I provide a relatively stationary member which corresponds to the usual self-retaining speculum and comprising an imperforate trough-like vertical shank 10 to the upper end of which is con-. nected a fixed blade 11. To the lower end of the shank is connected a weight or bob 12 having an open front 12 in constant communication with the trough of the shank whereby any fiow through the trough willj' be delivered to and through the open portion of the bob. As this type of speculum is usually made, there is frequent difficulty of it accidentally slipping out of position when in use, and to overcome this difficulty I connect the bob adjustably tothe lower end of the shank whereby, by changing the center of gravity thereof, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, I am enabled to vary the security of the instrument in an obvious manner.

As a convenient and reliable means for effecting this adjustment I provide an outturned flange 13 at the lower end. of the shank 10 which cooperates in an outwardly extending groove 1% adjacent the upper end of the bob. A set screw 15 is threaded in a lug 16 extending outwardly from one side of the shank and the screw is adapted to bear downwardly upon the top of the bob whereby the bob and shank are securely locked in any desired position of adjustment. A stop lug 17 is preferably formed near the front of the top of the bob to prevent accidental separation or displacement of the several parts above described; that is to say, when the screw 15 is loosened sufficiently to permit the desired adjustment, the stop lug 17 will be effective for its purpose, but when it is desired to remove the bob from the shank and fixed blade, as may be done for the purpose of using the instrument in the usual way in connection with the adjustable blade, a further loosening of the screw 15 will permit such separation.

The other main portion of the instrument comprises a movable blade 18 cooperating in the usual way with the blade 11 for certain purposes. The blade 18 is pivoted at 19 to the upper end of a yoke 20 carried at the upper end of a stem 21 lying normally within the trough shank 10 but adjustable longitudinally thereof or removable therefrom according to the necessity of any particular case. To effect the desired cooperation between the shank and the stem, I prefer to employ a thumb screw 22 seated member including a shank, a blade attached loosely but permanently within a slot 23 eX- tending longitudinally of the stem. This connection between the thumb screw and the stem may be effected by means of a shoulder 24 on one side of the stem and a flange or nut 25 on the other side thereof, the purpose being to have perfect freedom of movement of the stem longitudinally of the set screw, but preventing any possibility of loss of the set screw when the removable portion of the instrument is laid aside temporarily. The rear end of the set screw has threaded engagement with a threaded socket 26 formed in the bottom of the trough of the shank. A finger piece 27 extending forwardly from the lower end of the stem and in. vertical alinement with the open front of the bob w," provides a means for readily adjusting the movable blade vertically when the combined instrument is in use, and after the adjustment is effected, the set screw, by cooperation with the socket aforesaid, will make the adjustment secure. It is to be noted, however, that there is still left a free passageway 28 between the stem and the bottom of the shank at all times.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new andv desire to secure by Letters Patent h 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a relatively stationary Copies 01' this patent may be obtainedior five cents each, by: addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

thereto at one end and a bob secured to the other end of the shank, said bob being pro vided with means for adjusting the same rearwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the shank for the purpose of varying the effect of said blade.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a trough-shaped shank, a blade secured to the upper end of the shank, the shank having at its other end an outwardly extending flange, a bob at the lower end of the shank and having an outwardly extending groove adjacent its upper end in which said shank flange is normally seated and along which the shank is ad ustable forwardly or rearwardly, means to lock the shank to the bob in any desired position of adjustment, said bob having an open front with which the trough of the shank communicates in all positions of the 1 adjustment, and a vertically adjustably pivoted blade secured in said shank and cooperating with the fixed blade.

8. The herein described surgical instrument comprising, in combination, a troughlike shank, a fixed blade carried thereby at one end, the other end being provided with an outwardly projecting flange, a bob having an open front communicating in all positions with the trough of the shank, and locking means cooperating with the bob through said shank flange to secure the bob in any desired position with respect to the vertical axis of the shank, and means cooperating with said locking means preventing accidental displacement of'the bob from the shank when the locking means is loose.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS DROSIN.

Witnesses:

Geo. L. BEELER, PHILIP D. RoLLrIAUs.

Washington, D. C. 

